Compliance and Enforcement
If an officer is of the opinion that the actions of an individual or organization do not comply with the Act or its regulations, the officer will take certain actions to ensure compliance.
Officers may use both proactive and responsive approaches to establish compliance. In general, three approaches are available:
- Education: promotion of apprenticeship education programs and industry training programs and counselling and education for sponsors, employers, mentors, and/or apprentices on issues or concerns regarding compliance,
- Compliance: enforcement in accordance with the Act or its regulations through investigation of complaints, site visits, inspections, compliance orders, and court orders, and
- Prosecution: referring a matter for prosecution for an offence under the Act or its regulations (only in circumstances that constitute an offence, as outlined in the non-compliance section below). Officers may also refer matters that are a breach of the Criminal Code of Canada (e.g. fraud, theft) for investigation and possible prosecution.
